Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-06-11
kAPlOlANrS REALM.
The Sandwich Islands. and How They
Are Prospering.


Especial Corr.spond-nce
WASHINGTON. June Queen Kapiolanis
visit has brought the Sandwich Islands prom
inently before the United States, and the
following conversation with one of the most
prominent residents Of Honolulu will be read
with interest The gentleman, who is d large
sugar dealer and close friend of Claus
Spreckles, tells me that the Hawaiian Islands
are falling off in population, and that there
now are on the islands not more than 10 UuO
souls. which is considerably less than thev
had when Capt. Cook visited the country IOU
years ago.
The Sandwich Islands" this gentleman
continued, will eventually fall into the
hands OF the United States Already she has
large American resident population, and 9a
Pc cen:. Of her trade is with the United
ates. Only about one-half of the people
{ re natives, and about one-fourth Of the
whole population is made up OF Chinese COO
lies. The foreign element increases from year
20 year, and of these foreigners large num-
her come from Cnina and Japan
Queen kapiolani's army is composed of
800 infantry and 100 cavalry, and her capital
'ity, Honolulu. has Just about aO,O01 people
king kalakaua belongs to the church
of England and his government is Just about
81 900, 600 in debt. 1t pays interest on this at
the rate Of from to Il per cent. and does not
lie awake at night thinking about trying to
pay the principal The government has a
parliament con>isting Of a Gouse Of MOBILES
whose members are appointed by the king and
q house of twenty eight representatives elected
by the people Voters must he able to read
and write, own land to the amount Of $50,
and to have an income of SIC year.
Give ME some Information about the
islands" said |.
The kingdom Is by no means a large one
There ere twelve of these Sandwich Islands,
and the whole Of them could I've crowded into
the State of New Jersey and leave enough
room for Rhode Island around the edges
They are high and volcanic in structure, and
they have several mountains over 10000 feet
high They have 2O90,0 90 acres Of grazing
land and about 3UJ, go acres devoted to agri-
culture. Sugar Is the principal product, and
il is said that Claus Spreckles, the sugar mill
ionaire, practically owns the industry of the
island. About two years ago it was
charged that Spreckles was trying to
get entire possession of the islands and
make himself their king, and it was
said that King kalakaua owed Spreckles a
lot of money for advancements made to him
at the time Of his coronation. 1t is agains.
the law Of these islands that the crowns lands
should be sold, and Spreckles, it is said. i'll
duced the king to sell him 1000 acres, and
Spreckles' son, during a visit 10 Washington
old haf hair t,,p bal oh
60 900 acres of sugar lands under cultivation
Upon one Of these plantations, containing
5000 acres, l 800 persons were employed. and
these were of every nationality, including
800 whites.
What kind Of man is SprscklesT
He is one of the most remarkable of the
rich men OF the west He is German. who
came to this country in 1880 and started re
tail grocery in New York city He went to
California soon after the gold fever broke
out, and there engaged i'll the grocery bust
Ness. preferring II 10 mining. He made large
profits, and invested $4,000 in a brewery III
San Francisco. From making beer he turned
10 making sugar, and he now Is said 10 con
troll the entire sugar trade of the Pacific coast
His mills make GbU barrels of sugar daily the
year round, and each OF these barrels il is
said, will average SO III value. This makes
business of $500 a day, or over 5000
90 YEAR and as Spreckles' profits are
said TO be SO a bare he has an income of
5000 day. Spreckles is a very popular
m.n in San Francisco. His son is Repub-
lican, and he gives literally TO the campaigns
The old gentleman Is of medium height, we'll
built and well dressed His round head is
covered with thick, white hair and he is full
Of life and vigor. He comes here to Wash
ington very frequently during the congress
sional sessions, and both he and his son are
anxious that no duty be put upon Sandwich
Islands sugar
1T is said that Spreckles and Kalakaua are
now not on the best of terms But kaiakaua
is bound to Spreckles in more ways thLn
those Of socisbility. IL is said that Spreckles
lent him Sl,0O0,0O0 in 1884, and young
Spreckles once said here that Kalskaua had
often jokingly told his father after following
his advice in certain instap ces, that he be-
lieved il Spreckles could see his tkalakaua's)
backbone he would find the initials &c s.
staInpsd upon it." THoaAs J. TODD.